Whether it’s camping, traveling, learning a skill or making lifelong friends, there is something for everyone in Scouting America Troop 32 in Epworth.
Founded in 1943, Troop 32 has trained young people to be prepared for anything that comes their way.
“You are preparing for what? Well, you don’t really know exactly, but you know what you are about to do and what the activity is and what you might need,” said Scoutmaster David Lewis, who was an Eagle Scout in the 1970s and 1980s and has been the Epworth troop leader for the past two decades.
Scouting prepares young people to be well rounded individuals in such areas as cooking, camping, hiking, swimming, biking, environmental science, sustainability, citizenship, community, personal fitness, movie making, robotics, chess, programming, artificial intelligence, photography, theatre, and cybersecurity.
Skills learned include starting a fire without matches using such things as flint and steel, a nine-volt battery and steel wool, or a magnifying glass, and also first aid and navigation without the availability of GPS.
Scouting also teaches leadership, Lewis said. Scouts handle the weekly Tuesday night meetings and hold offices such as Senior Patrol Leader, Scribe and Quartermaster.
The troop teaches patriotism and is heavily involved in veterans organizations. The troop takes part in flag retirement ceremonies and help carry flags at veterans ceremonies.
“There are certain values that are timeless like citizenship that it doesn’t matter when it is, they are still good to have,” Lewis said.
Troop 32 also participates in regular activities from traditional camping trips to survival and firearm safety training camping trips. They also participate in two area camporees and a week-long summer camp. They do one activity a month whether it’s camping or other things.
Scouting is a big adventure and travel is a big part of it. In the past, Troop 32 has visited such places as Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, St. Louis, Missouri, Washington DC. and Charleston, South Carolina for an overnight stay on the USS Yorktown. In March 2026, they are going to do an overnight stay in the caves of the Lost Sea in Tennessee. They will be going to places not on the regular tour.
“They need an excuse to get outside and much of our activities are outside. Some kids don’t have that,” Lewis said.
Lewis said the biggest thing scouting provides young people is comradery. “You make friends you will keep for a lifetime,” he said. “Every time we get together, we talk about scouting. There’s a bond or a friendship built. I tell people you don’t realize what is happening until you get out of it how valuable it is. You will think about it later.”
Lewis went on to day “we had all those experiences together. In sports, you can play like football, but I don’t think you get the same thing. You are meeting with somebody every week. You spend an hour and a half with that person every week. You are living with them, camping with them or staying overnight with them in a tent. You are living life with them. That is something that will go with you.”
Lifetime memories are made. “It’s not always the best thing. My first camping trip was a disaster. The tent fell in. All of us kids were in it. There were probably 10 of us in it. It was on Fort Mountain and it rained like crazy. The tent fell in and it was the heaviest thing. We couldn’t find the door. We were trying to find the way. I remember Larry Culpepper and a few of the dads helping us, drying us out,” Lewis said. “It’s nostalgic. Not only did you experience it, but you persevered and you made it. There is some value right there.”
If you are interested in joining scouting or want to see what it is like, the troop meets every Tuesday night at 6:30 pm next to the Epworth Community Club building behind Epworth School. You can also reach out to David Lewis at 706-455-3497.